Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D-TEE) in diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse(MVP).Methods Twenty patients with MVP with more than moderate mitral regurgitation referred for mitral valve repair (MVR) were studied.All patients underwent RT-3D-TEE and mitral valve quantification(MVQ) before MVR.The location of scallop lesions and ruptured mitral chordae tendineae for mitral valve were evaluated,and compared with surgical findings.Carpentier's nomenclature was applied to the mitral valve anatomic localization either RT-3D-TEE or surgery.There were three anterior leaflet scallops defined as A1,A2 and A3,and three posterior leaflet scallops defined as P1,P2 and P3.Results ① The shape and spatial structure of the scallop lesions and ruptured mitral chordae tendineae of mitral valve were clearly displayed by RT-3D-TEE,also could be observed through left atrium view and left ventricular view.② Compaired with surgical findings,RT-3D-TEE was of high sensitivity (100 ％),higher specificity (95.46 ％) and crude agreement (95.83％) in the location of P2,the positive likelihood ratio of location of P2 (22.03) was the biggest,the negative likelihood ratio (0) was the smallest.③ RT-3D-TEE had lower sensitivity (66.67％),specificity (83.76 ％) and crude agreement (83.33 ％) in the diagnosis of location of P1 than other locations,the positive likelihood ratio(4.11) was the smallest,the negative likelihood ratio (0.40) was the biggest.④ The sensitivity,specificity,crude agreement,positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio of RT-3D-TEE in diagnosis of ruptured mitral chordae tendineae accompanied by MVP were 100％,91.67％,95.00％,12.00,0 respectively.Conclusions RT-3D-TEE could clearly display the three-dimensional structure of the lesions of mitral valve.It was of better accuracy in diagnosis of the location of scallop lesions of mitral valve and the rupture of chordae tendineae,and was of important clinical application value in MVR.

Objective To compare the impact of anterior and inferior-posterior regional wall motion abnormalities on the vortex in systolic phase by vector flow map(VFM) technique.Methods Sixty patients with myocardial infarction were divided into 2 groups:the left anterior descending artery single branch lesion group (LAD group) and the left circumflex artery and/or right coronary artery lesion group (LCX/RCA group).By VFM technique,left ventricular systolic blood flow field was observed.Parameters such as the vortex duration were calculated and compared between two patient groups and also with healthy control group.Results LAD group did not show significant difference from the control group in isovolumic systolic vortex,this group was characterized with large size of vortex and usually forming local vortex at the apex in early ejection.On the contrary,LCX/RCA group had small isovolumic systolic vortex,the early ejection vortex of this group was significantly smaller than that of LAD group and larger than that of control group.The phenomenon was usually observed in the center of the lumen.Both LAD and LCX/RCA group had longer total vortex duration and vortex collapse time than the healthy control group,these differences were not significant between LAD and LCX/RCA group.There were no significant differences in isovolumic vortex duration among the three groups.Conclusions Anterior wall infarction had more impact on systolic blood flow field than inferior-posterior wall infarction.The VFM technique could be applied for observation and evaluation of the changes in vortex characteristics.

Objective To evaluate the short-term efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT)by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI).Methods 27 chronic heart failure patients who underwent CRT were enrolled.All following indices were measured respectively:the left ventricular systolic function indices in the 16 segments of 3D-STI including the mean area peak strain,the mean longitudinal peak strain,the mean circumferential peak strain,and the mean radial peak strain(MAS,MLS,MCS,MRS) ; the strain-derived dyssynchrony indices in the 16 segments of 3D-STI including the standard deviation for time to peak area strain,the standard deviation for time to peak longitudinal strain,the standard deviation for time to peak circumferential strain,and the standard deviation for time to peak radial strain (TAS-SD,TCS-SD,TLS-SD,TRS-SD) ;the standard deviation for time to peak area strain,the standard deviation for time to peak circumferential strain,the standard deviation for time to peak longitudinal strain,and the standard deviation for time to peak radial strain(TAS-dif,TCS-dif,TLS-dif,TRS-dif) ;the rotation and twist index of 3D-STI including peak rotation on apical plane,peak rotation on basal plane,peak twist angle(RotA,RotB,Twist),time to peak of the rotation on apical,time to peak of the rotation on bastal,time to peak of the twist (PTRotA,PTRotB,PTtw).The differences of all the indices between before CRT and 3 months after CRT were calculated and the correlation between the changes of all those indices and the changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (△LVEF) were analyzed.Results MAS,MLS,MCS,MRS,RotA and Twist were increased 3 months after CRT (P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05,P ＜0.01,P ＜0.01,P＜ 0.01,P ＜0.01);TRS-SD and PTtw was decreased 3 months after CRT (P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05) ; |△MAS|,| △MLS|,△TRSSD,△RotA and △Twist were correlated with △LVEF 3 months after CRT (r =0.521,P =0.005; r =0.389,P =0.045; r =-0.560,P =0.002; r =0.513,P =0.006; r =0.610,P =0.001).Conclusions The myocardial systolic strain function,dyssynchrony and twist function of left ventricle were improved significantly 3 months after CRT.3D-STI offered a new way for the evaluation of short-term efficacy of CRT.

Objective To evaluate the dynamic changes of left ventricular systolic blood flow hemodynamics in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and short-term after PCI by vector flow mapping (VFM).MethodsTwenty-five patients with AMI were examined by color Doppler two-dimensional echocardiography respectively before PCI and three days and one month after PCI.The standard apical three-chamber color images in three sequent cardiac cycles were acquired and analyzed on off-line by VFM.In systole,the parameters of vortex including horizontal length,longitudinal length,transverse position,vertical position,and maximum vector velocity were measured respectively,and all parameters three days and one month after PCI were compared with those before PCI respectively.Results In systole,there were not statistically significant differences between parameters three days after PCI and those before PCI( P ＞0.05).Compared parameters one month after PCI with those before PCI,horizontal length was longer( P ＜0.05),longitudinal length was shorter (P ＜0.05),the transverse position was closer to anterior ventricular septum( P ＜0.05),and the maximum vector velocity of vortex was increased ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions VFM may serve as an ideal tool to quantitatively evaluate the blood flow hemodynamics of left ventricle in patients with AMI after short-term therapy by PCI.

The mechanism of biological actions of quercetin was studied by using metabolomic method and biomolecular network. HPLC-MS was used to analyze the serum metabolome in rats of blank group and quercetin administration group rats, and MS data were processed by MATLAB software. With multivariate statistical analysis of serum metabolite profiles, a clear separation among blank group and quercetin administration group was achieved, potential biomarkers were selected according to the parameters of variable importance in the projection (VIP) and identified according to MS information and database retrieval. Four compounds, related enzymes, action targets and metabolic pathways had been confirmed, namely retinoic acid and RARbeta, arachidonate and COX-2, 3, 5-diodotyrosine and TPO, uridine diphosphate glucose and PDEs. The mechanism of quercetin enhancing ability of retinoic acid on the induction of RARbeta, activating TPO, using as COX-2 and PDEs inhibitor was approved by biomolecular network and related literatures. In this study, a mechanism of multiple biological actions of quercetin was evaluated at the level of the biomolecular network, metabolomics and biomolecular network can be used to investigate the biological effects mechanism of quercetin, which provided a new method to further revealing mechanism of drug action.

BACKGROUND:Numerous diseases like cardiac hypertrophy and intervertebral disc degeneration are known to be implicated in the changes of mechanical stress acting on surrounding tissues or cells, and autophagy contributes to the pathogenesis of these diseases. OBJECTIVE:To review the effects of mechanical factors on autophagy in different tissues and the underlying molecular mechanisms, thereby providing references for the research of autophagy and the prevention and treatment of related diseases. METHODS:A search of Web of Science and PubMed databases was performed for the literatures addressing the effects of mechanical factors on autophagy using the English keywords ofautophagy, mechanicaland the articles were summarized systematically. Finally, 52 literatures were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mechanical factors make great effects on autophagy of various cells, such as myocardial cells, endothelial cells, chondrocytes and skeletal muscle cells. Autophagy is a self-protective reaction, and the mechanical stress of physiological conditions induces autophagy to maintain cellhomeostasis, normal function and survival. The mechanism of autophagy induced by mechanical stress may involve PI3K-AKT-mTOR, oxygen free radical, AKT-FoxO and other pathways, and the definite mechanism needs to be further studied.

Objective:To evaluate the changes of left ventricular (LV) myocardial systolic strain and twist motion including global longitudinal strain(GLS), global circumferential strain(GCS), global radial strain(GRS), global area strain(GAS), LV basal segment rotation angle (Rotation-basal), LV apical segment rotation angle (Rotation-apical), LV twist angle (Twist), LV torsion(Torsion) by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI) in adult patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and further to analyze the correlations between LV twist and its morphology and global systolic function.Methods:A total of 45 patients with HCM from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from September 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled. In addition, 50 healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Left atrial dimension(LAD), interventricular septal end-diastole dimension(IVSD), LV posterior wall end-diastole dimension (LVPWD), LV mass index(LVMI) and other parameters were respectively measured by conventional two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. LV end-diastole volume(EDV), LV end-systole volume(ESV), calculated stroke volume(SV) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were respectively measured by 3D transthoracic echocardiography. Full-volume 3D dynamic images were performed using matrix transducer X5-1. LV Rotation-basal, Rotation-apical, Twist and Torsion, GLS, GCS, GRS and GAS were respectively analyzed by off-line TomTec software. The differences of those parameters between the two groups were compared. The correlations between 3D-Torsion parameters and those parameters by two-dimensional echocardiography was further analyzed.Results:Compared with control group, LAD, IVSD, LVPWD and LVMI of HCM group were increased(all P<0.01), EDV, ESV, SV, LVEF and E/A were decreased(all P<0.01). Compared with control group, GLS, GCS and GRS of HCM group were decreased(all P<0.01). Rotation-basal, Rotation-apical, Twist and Torsion were increased(all P<0.01), and there was no significant difference of GAS between the two groups( P>0.05). In HCM group, IVSD was not correlated with Rotation-basal ( P>0.05), but negatively correlated with Rotation-apical, Twist and Torsion ( r=-0.327, -0.439, -0.374; all P<0.05); LVEF and LVMI were not correlated with Rotation-basal, Rotation-apical, Twist and Torsion (all P>0.05). Conclusions:①3D-STI can detect the earlier subtle changes of left ventricular three-dimensional systolic strain in HCM patients; ②LV three-dimensional Twist inereases considerably in HCM patients; ③LV Twist, Torsion and Rotation-apical are significantly decreased with the increase of IVSD in HCM patients; However, LVEF and LVMI are not significantly correlated with Rotation-basal, Rotation-apical, Twist and Torsion.

Objective:To investigate the impacts of hirudin(HRD)on neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory response in rats with cerebral infarction by regulating Ras homolog gene family member A(RhoA)/Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming protein kinase(ROCK)signaling pathway.Methods:SD rats were grouped into Ct group,Model group,low-dose HRD group(HRD-L group,13.33 mg/kg),high-dose HRD group(HRD-H group,26.66 mg/kg),positive control Nimodipine group(NMDP group,40 mg/kg),U-46619(RhoA agonist,0.03 mg/kg)group and HRD-H+U-46619 group(26.66 mg/kg+0.03 mg/kg),with 24 rats per group.Except for the Ct group,rats in other groups constructed the rat model of cerebral infarction by the modified suture method.The rats in the Ct group only exposed the blood vessels without incision and suture insertion.After 1 hour of successful modeling,drug treatment was car-ried out,once a day for 4 weeks.Zea-Longa method was applied to evaluate the neurological function of rats;dry and wet weight meth-od was applied to detect the water content of rat brain tissue;2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was applied to deter-mine the volume of cerebral infarction in rats;TUNEL staining was applied to detect the apoptosis of neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of rats.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in rat hippocampus were detected by ELISA;the protein expressions of cleaved-Caspase-3 Cleaved-Caspase-3,Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),RhoA,ROCK1 and ROCK2 in rat hippocampus were de-tected by Western blot.Results:Compared with Ct group,the neurological function scores,brain tissue water content,cerebral in-farction volume percentage,neuron apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,the protein expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3,Bax,RhoA,ROCK1 and ROCK2 increased in the Model group(P<0.05).Compared with Model group,the neurological function scores,brain tissue water content,cerebral infarction volume percentage,neuron apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,the protein expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3,Bax,RhoA,ROCK1 and ROCK2 decreased in HRD-L group,HRD-H group,NMDP group,however,the corresponding index changes in the U-46619 group showed an opposite trend(P<0.05).Compared with HRD-H group,the neurological function scores,brain tissue water content,cerebral infarction volume percentage,neuron apoptosis rate,levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,the protein expressions of Cleaved-Caspase-3,Bax,RhoA,ROCK1 and ROCK2 were increased in the HRD-H+U-46619 group(P<0.05).Conclusion:HRD may inhibit neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory response in rats with cerebral infarction by inhibiting RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Objective To create multi-parameter analysis model by conventional two-dimensional echorcardiography( 2DE) and three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging( 3D-STI) in order to improve the early diagnosis in MYH7G + P- mutation carriers of familiar hypertrophic cardiomyopathy( HCM ) . Methods Twenty-eight MYH7 mutation carriers without left ventricular hypertrophy ( MYH7G + P- ) were enrolled as the research group , while 27 MYBPC3 mutation carriers without left ventricular hypertrophy ( MYBPC3G + P- ) were selected as the control group . The clinical data ,conventional 2DE and tissue Doppler imaging ( TDI) parameters of the two groups were acquired ,including the maximum of the thickness of interventricular septum( IVS) and left ventricular posterior ventricular wall thickness( LVPWT ) in end of diastole ,mitral flow E and A velocities ,E peak deceleration time( EDT ) ,atrioventricular filling time ,mitral annulus velocity of interventricular septum IVS-e' and lateral wall L-e' ,interventricular septum IVS-a' and lateral wall L-a' peak in diastole ,calculate mean value e' and a' ,and calculate E/ e' ,E/A ,left atrial volume index( LAVI) ,left ventricular mass index( LVMI) ,left ventricular ejection fraction( LVEF) and isovolumic relaxation time( IVRT ) ,isovolumic contraction time( IVCT ) . The global longitudinal peak strain( GLS) , global radial peak strain( GRS) ,global circumferential peak strain( GCS) and global area peak strain( GAS) were acquired by 3D-STI . All parameters were compared between research group and control group . Results Compared with the control group ,research group significantly increased in LAVI , maximum IVS and LVPWT ,LVMI and GAS( P < 0 .01) . There were no significant difference in TDI parameters( P > 0 .05) . For single parameter ,the area under ROC curve( AUC) were successively LVPWT > LAVI > IVS > LVMI >GAS( 0 .772 ,0 .738 ,0 .733 ,0 .719 ,0 .714 ,respectively) . AUC of multi-parameters was 0 .912 ,the sensitivity and specificity were 85 .2％ and 96 .3％ ,respectively . Conclusions Multi-parameter analysis model by conventional 2DE and 3D-STI can significantly improve the recognition efficiency of early diagnosis MYH7G + P- of familiar HCM . With further ,maximum LVPWT is an independent predictor of distinction MYH7G + P- and MYBPC3G + P- .

Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of interleukin (IL)-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells infected by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).Methods:HPV-18 positive HeLa cells cultured in vitro were divided into control group (normal cultured), IL-6 group (stimulated with 50 ng/ml IL-6 for 24 h) and IL-6 + AG490 group (stimulated with 50 ng/ml IL-6 and 100 μmol/L STAT3 signaling pathway inhibitor AG490 for 24 h). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to detect the cell survival rate. The ability of cell clone formation was detected by plate clone formation assay. The cell invasion was detected by transwell chamber assay. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of STAT3, phosphorylation of (p)-STAT3, B-cell lymphoma-2 gene (Bcl-2), CyclinD1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Results:Compared with those in the control group, the cell survival rate, clone formation rate, number of invasive cells and the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, Bcl-2, CyclinD1 and MMP-9 in IL-6 group were significantly higher, while the apoptosis rate was significantly lower ( P<0.05); at the same time, compared with those in IL-6 group, the cell survival rate, clone formation rate, the number of invasive cells and the protein expression levels of p-STAT3, Bcl-2, CyclinD1 and MMP-9 in IL-6 + AG490 group were significantly lower, while the apoptosis rate was significantly higher ( P<0.05). Conclusions:IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the malignant progression of high-risk HPV infected cervical cancer cells, and its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of CyclinD1, MMP-9, Bcl-2 protein expressions.